The biosphere park of Queen Elizabeth National (QENP) is the most diverse protected area in Uganda. Lying along the Albertine rift valley floor in the backdrop of the legendary “Mountains of the Moon”, QENP was gazetted in 1952 as Kazinga National Park to protect the varied landscape and prolific wildlife between Lake Edward and the Rwenzori Mountains but was renamed in 1954 to commemorate the visit of the British Royal Monarch, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 2.

The expansive biodiversity-rich area of 1978km² is associated with diverse habitats that include open savanna grasslands, acacia woodlands, tropical forests, wetlands, open water and the famous forested Kyambura Gorge, supporting a total of 95 mammal species and 660 bird species; the highest number of bird species recorded for any protected area of such a size on the continent.

Quick Facts

• First gazetted 1920 as Kazinga Channel but renamed Queen Elizabeth in 1954
• Altitude: 912m–1360m.
• Size: 1978km²
• Birds check list: 660 species, a true bird-hot spot.
• Mammal check list: 95species
• Distance to Kampala: 410km.

Things to Do while in Queen Elizabeth National Park – Activities and Highlights

• Take Prolific Wildlife Safari Game Drives

Queen Elizabeth NP offers an incredible up-close wildlife safari experience on game drive safaris along excellent tracks that spread out across the park’s rift valley floor. Along the candelabra dotted savanna plains of Kasenyi are Kob (Kobus kob) leks where in season males compete in a show of might by holding prime territories to attract suitable mates, but Deffassa Water Buck, Cape Buffalos occur, Savanna Elephant herds and Bushbuck patrol and tame woodlands.

Predators include Lions, Spotted Hyena, Side-striped Jackal and the elusive Leopard. Warthogs and Banded mongoose are the other not-minded species!! Giant forest Hog is encountered on wooded tracks.

• Climbing Lions Prides of Ishasha

Lying south of this unique biosphere park is the Ishasha sector, are the famous climbing lions that are usually encountered lounging up in several fig and albizzia tree branches during the heat of the day. The unique behavior adapted by the lion prides of Ishasha is thought to either escape the nasty stinging insects or just to have a good look at their vast territory is subject to discussion!!

The savanna grassland plains are rich with herds of Topi, (a race unique to this area) Uganda Kob, herds of Cape Buffalo, Common Warthog, Deffassa Water Buck among others. Spotted Hyenas and Leopards are often seen. Woodlands are tamed by Elephants, while the Ishasha River is teamed by schools of Hippos and the Nile Crocodile.

• Take a Boat Cruise Safari on the Kazinga Channel

Kazinga channel is a 40km long natural channel connecting lakes Edward (912m) and George (913m). It drains the papyrus and marsh surrounded L. George into L. Edward, attracting a wide range of animals and birds with one of the world’s concentration of hippos and crocodiles. The 2-hour boat cruise launches from Mweya Peninsula towards the mouth of L. Edward bringing you up close to the Elephants, Hippos and herds of Buffalos as they quench their thirsty in the channel.

Up till recent the Nile Crocodiles was absent for over 6000yrs and now is frequently seen basking in sun on the banks. The channel is a recognized Important Bird Area (IBA) hosting tens of thousands of migrating birds on their winter visit along a health checklist of local resident waders.

• Bird Watching in Queen Elizabeth NP

Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s top birding site with nearly 660 bird species more than any other protected area in Africa. The park’s varied bird-rich habitats include tropical forests, open water, wetlands, savanna grasslands and woodland, it’s one place to tick several biome restricted species. A boat cruise on the famous Kazinga channel gives you close views of migrant and resident waterfowl including, various sand pipers, several stocks, Giant Kingfisher, African Fish Eagle, African Marsh Eagle, while on open savanna and woodlands attract several raptors including, Bateleur, Tawny Eagle, Martial Eagle, Black-snake Eagle, and scavengers among them Ruppel’s Griffin and African White-backed, White-headed, Lappet-faced Vultures.

The grassland plain’s common residents include, the splendid Wattled Lapwing, Flappert, Red-capped Larks, Termick’s Courser, Rufous-naped Lark among others. Imaramagambo forest is a great place to see several forest restricted birds including, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Yellowbill, Toro Olive Greenbul, Forest Robin, Narina Trogon, Western Black-headed Oriole, Red-tailed Bristle bill, Blue-shouldered Robin Chat, Olive-bellied Sunbird, Brown Illadopsis, Afep Pigeon, African Pied Hornbill among others.

The papyrus banks on the Kazinga channel is good for papyrus restricted species like Papyrus Gonolek, White-winged Warbler, Malachite Kingfisher and further north the Ramsar recognized marshes of L. George are famous and breeding ground for the prehistoric Shoebill.

Several crater lakes like Munyanyange are seasonal hosts of migrants like Lesser Flamingos, Whiskered Terns, Little Stints, and others.

• Chimpanzee Tracking at Kyambura Gorge and Kalinzu Forest

On the eastern section of QENP, is the Kyambura Gorge where a healthy community of habituated chimpanzee reside in its 16km long, 1km wide and approx.100m deep underground tropical forest that is surrounded by golden savanna above. The gorge is drained by the freshwater river that’s responsible of shaping it before it empties into the Kazinga channel. Daily guided Chimpanzee trekking experience follow excellent trails that crosses various feeding range of this local chimp group to offer up-close while other primates seen on trek include Black and White Colobus, Red-tailed Monkey, Vervet and Olive Baboon. Bigger angulates include Forest duikers, Giant Forest Hog but Savanna Elephants, Buffalos and Hippos visit.

The Chimpanzee trekking experience duration differs daily but 4-6hrs is normal.

Nearby QENP, the mid-altitude Kalinzu Forest reserve extends for 137km² along the ridges and valleys of the rift valley escarpment wall, hosting an exciting, habituated community of chimps that offers incredible up-close experience. Still attracting low cost and low visitors, chimpanzee trekking at Kalinzu ranks among the best in the country!

Daily excursions led by guides begin from the reserves’ eco-center heading out across the forest interior, to the local feeding and home range of habituated community of Chimpanzee. On locating them visitors are allowed a standard One-Hour of viewing. Other primates include the Blue and L’hoest Monkeys, Black and White (Guereza) and Red-tailed Monkeys, Grey-cheecked Mangabey and a rich bird, butterfly and tree-specie list. Here at Kalinzu chimpanzee experience stretches between 4-6hrs.

• Explore the Dazzling and Explosion Crater Lakes.

Queen Elizabeth’s landscape is pocked with a number explosion craters which is an evidence of violent earth forces that shaped the rift valley and surroundings from as recent as 6000 years ago. A 27km scenic Crater drive explore these extinct craters that are now filled with unique vegetation types from forested and savanna grasslands to saline muddy waters that attracts buffalos. The drive offers one panoramic views of the Rift valley floor including the Rwenzori mountain ranges, Kazinga Channel and L. George.

Of these craters, the most scenic are Katwe and Bunyampaka salt lakes where for centuries salt mining activity is done using age-old traditional methods. Other nearby craters are Important birding Area attracting migrating birds among them thousands of Lesser Flamingos (and at less extent Greater Flamingos) to feed on their algae-filled shallow waters. Several other lakes are scattered along the Bunyaruguru escarpment and can be explored on foot through villages exposing one to diverse agricultural practices on the steep slopes and rims of these craters.

• Take a Nature Walk in the vast Imaramagambo Forest

Usually overlooked by most travelers is this vast medium altitude 750km² forest that flank most of the eastern wall ridges of the rift valley. Several trails lead out to Bat caves where millions roost. Several primates including Chimpanzee, L’hoest Monkey, Blue and Red-tailed Monkey among others.  Activities range from 2-4hrs exploring several Crater Lakes within this forest.